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Northern Africa is a region surrounding the northern portion of the African continent. Northern Africa consists of five countries Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. Northern Africa has semi-arid and arid desert climates and low rainfall. Over the past four decades, many areas in Northern Africa have faced drought which has become more widespread, prolonged and frequent due to climate variability and which may expedite a shortage of water and to a decrease in the land areas suitable for agriculture. In fact, limited water reserves, growing population and droughts are the main factors reflected in the increased consumption of freshwater. It is critical to understand a balance between water demand and supply by managing drought and water stress in the region.

The Maghreb region includes five countries Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. It is region of Northwest Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The Maghreb consists of two defining regions, the Sahara Desert in the south and the Atlas Mountains in the north. The Maghreb has arid to semiarid climate. Many areas in the world and particularly the Maghreb countries are affected by water scarcity, as well as result of population pressures, rising in urbanization, climate change and also increasing pollution of water. This paper attempts to assess the region’s water scarcity challenges through highlighting the causes and reasons of water scarcity and its negative effects on water supply. Also, the chapter aims to discuss the vital role of sustainable water management to reduce the risk of water scarcity and this through the solutions, techniques and the best practices adopted in the region.

North Africa is limited in the north by the Mediterranean Sea, in the east by the Red Sea, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south by the Sahara Desert. North Africa includes five countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. North Africa has a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Many areas in North Africa have faced water scarcity or water crisis, as well as the result of population pressures, rising urbanization, climate change, and also increasing pollution of water. All these factors have led to a rise in water demand and thereby to water shortage. In North Africa, rising temperatures and long droughts periods linked with climate change are expected to decrease the land areas suitable for agriculture and reduce crop yields. These are reflected in the increased consumption of freshwater. It is critical to understand a balance between water demand and water supply through an understanding of the impacts of climate change on freshwater and its direct consequences on water security.

Many regions and countries around the world are suffering from water scarcity due to the increasing demand for water, reduction of water resources, and increasing pollution of water driven by the continued growth in megacities, climate change, agriculture, and pollution. Actually, water scarcity is resulted from the lack of water resources to satisfy all humans’ demand. This has two different aspects one is quantitative and other one is qualitative; therefore, water scarcity may be due to the water availability and/or to the bad quality of water. Since water is a scarce resource, it is critical to focus on managing water demand through the well-understanding of the impacts of climate change on freshwater demand, and thus adopt simultaneously mitigation and adaptation strategies that can tackle the causes of climate change and reduce the negative of its effects. In general, the main ways to save water resources are the water pollution prevention, water harvesting techniques, seawater desalination solutions, recharging aquifers/groundwater, and water reuse technologies. The governments through their policies and rules, organizations and groups should work all together to save water by increasing public awareness, and thus reducing the effects of water scarcity.